Attachment for telephones



(No Model.)

G. P. NEWLAND.

ATTAGHMENT FOR TELBPHONES No. 421,011. Patented Feb. 11,1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE F. NEWVLAND, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

ATTACHMENT FOR TELEPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,011, dated. February 11, 1890.

Application filed September 28, 1889. Serial No. 325,385, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE F. NEWLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, county of WVayne, State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Attachments for Telephones; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of a telephone signal-box with my device attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a separate view of the bell-clapper holder, showing part in section. Fig. 3 is a view at right angles to Fig. 1, showing a modification and Fig. at is a detail view of part of the modification.

In the use of telephones much annoyance is created, due to the fact that when a person goes to a telephone to make a call he rings his own bell, and othersabout the establishment are apt to go to the telephone, presuming that a distant party is calling, only to find his error.

To provide a simple and inexpensive mechanism for remedying the difficulty is the purpose of my invention, and this I accomplish in the manner hereinafter described and claimed.

To this end A represents the signal-box of the usual telephone apparatus, and B is its bell; b, the clapper. I

C is a plunger, preferably provided with a spring c for retracting it, and with a thumbpiece 0' for pushing it against the bell-clapper. I also preferably provide it with a bifurcated or forked end 0 adapted to embrace the stem of the clapper. This is so arranged that the person calling may press it into engagement with and so hold the clapper. As soon as he has rung up the central office he may release the clapper, either by a positive shift of the plunger back to its original position, or the retractin g-sprin g may release it.

The stem may be provided with a notch c or equivalent catch, whereby it may be temporarily locked in engagement with the clapper, the spring returning it as soon as the catch is disengaged. This device may be arranged in relation to the-push-button or pushshaft, so that the act of pushing the button or shaft will serve to engage the device with the clapper, and by relieving the push-button or push-shaft the engagement is broken. Such a variation with the push-button is shown in Figs. 3 and at. So, also, any form of catch 0 may be employed for temporarily holding the device in engagement with the clapper.

The signal-bell is usually attached to the door of the signal-box. When, therefore, as shown in Fig. 3, the device is made to operate by pressing the push-button, it may be forked, as shown at 0 so as to disengage from the button when the door is opened.

As will be seen, my invention is designed as an attachment for telephones only, and I do not therefore claim, broadly, the use of a clutch or holder to hold the clapper of a bell.

What I claim is 1. A telephone attachment consisting of the spring-retracted rod 0, forked at its upper end to en gage the bell-clapper and notched near its lower end to engage a projection for retaining it in its operating position, embracing the clapper until released, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a telephone signal-bell located on a hinged door, of a clutch or holder also located on said door and adapted to engage the clapper, said clutch constructed to engage the push-button as the door is closed, whereby it may be operated by the act of pressing the button.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE F. NEWLAND. WVitnesses:

W. H. CHAMBERLIN, L. A. Donrrrz, 

